Of this curious series of customs, I have met with no interpretation which can be put forward with confidence. Their object seems to be in general the avoidance of intercourse or connexion between parents-in-law and children-in-law, some- times to such an extent that one person may not look at the other, or even pronounce his or her name. But the reasons for this avoidance are not clear.[1] It is possible that a fuller study of the law of tabu may throw some light on the matter. The extraordinary summary of Fijian customs given by the Rev. Thomas Williams, may be here quoted in full; it is probably to be understood as taking in occasional or local practices. "A free flow of the affections between members of the same family is further prevented by the strict observance of national or religious customs, imposing a most unnatural restraint. Brothers and sisters, first cousins, fathers- and sons-in-law, mothers- and daughters-in-law, and brothers- and sisters-in-law, are thus severally forbidden to speak to each other, or to eat from the same dish. The latter embargo extends to husbands and wives,—an arrangement not likely to foster domestic joy." Elsewhere the same author says, "in some parts, the father may not speak to his son after his fifteenth year."[2] Reading this, we can hardly pass unnoticed the assertion that among the Veddas of Ceylon, a father will not see his daughter, nor a mother her son, after they have come to years of maturity.[3]
The fourth and last group of customs has long been under notice, and lists have even been made of countries where practices belonging to it have been found.[4] One of these practices has an existing European name, the couvade, or "hatching," and this term it may be convenient to use for the whole set. By working up the old information with the aid of some new facts, I have endeavoured to give an account, not only of the geographical distribution of the couvade, but of its nature and meaning. The most convenient way of discussing it is first to
- ↑ See St. John, Harmon, and Franklin, locis citatis.
- ↑ Williams, 'Fiji,' vol. i. pp. 136, 166. See Mariner, vol. ii. p. 147.
- ↑ Tr. Eth. Soc., vol. iii. p. 71.
- ↑ M'Culloh, Researches; Baltimore, 1829, p. 99. Waitz, vol. i. p. 294; E. Tr., p. 257. Humboldt & Bonpland, Tr., vol. vi. p. 333. Lafitau, vol. i. p. 49.
